Mayor urges more funding to tackle family violence

Tue 20 Aug 2013, 10:22 AM AEST

The Wellington Shire Council will consider a motion to push for more resources to respond to family violence in the region.

The motion, put forward by Mayor Scott Rossetti, suggests the council should lobby the Victorian Government for more resources to respond to the needs of women and children affected by family violence.

It says reported family violence in the Wellington Shire has increased by nearly 250 per cent in the past five years and family violence is much worse in the shire than the state average.

The motion calls for extra funding for counselling and additional staff hours for intake services for women and children affected by family violence.

It also suggests council lobby the Government for more funding to extend the number of men's behaviour change programs in the region and for the shire to be included in a pilot program giving personal alarms to people escaping family violence.